Domestic appliances



Feb. 26, 1-957 R, R'CANDOR DOMESTIC APPLIANCES Fneaay 2, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 2, 1952 INVENTOR. m/ #3 2,782,622 Patented Feb. 26, 1957 fiice DOMESTIC APPLIANCES Robert R. Candor, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation oi Delaware Application July 2, 1953, Serial No. 365,759

6 Claims. (Cl. 68-45) This invention relates to domestic appliances and more particularly to a combined washing machine and dryer.

An object of this invention is to provide a combined washer and dryer having a rotatable tub movable from a vertical position for washing and spinning clothes, to a non-vertical position for drying them.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined washer and dryer as described in the foregoing paragraph having means for heating air and blowing it into the tub when it is in its non-vertical position, to aid in drying the clothes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined washer and dryer as described in the foregoing paragraph, with a moisture condenser, to be etfective during the drying operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the combined washer and dryer, somewhat diagrammatic, and taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a view at right angles to Figure 1, taken along the line 22 of Figure 1..

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the device in a drying position.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the time controller, and its connection to the various electrical parts of the device.

My combined washer and dryer may include a cabinet in which is mounted a swingably movable casing 11, within which is a rotatable tub 12 containing an agitator 13. The casing 11 may carry a power unit 14 for driving the agitator 13 and tub 12. Merely as an example, the power unit, liquid retaining, imperforate tub and agitator may be generally of the character disclosed in the patent to Clark 2,422,395, patented June 17, 1947. A sliding snubber 15 may be provided having the action and general construction disclosed in the patent to Clark et al. 2,539,530, patented January 30, 1951. However, the lower portion 16 of the snubber may be carried by the cabinet 10, and the upper portion 17 of the snubber'may be carried by the power unit 14, and these parts may be so designed that they can slide from each other and engage each other as diagrammatically indicated in Figures 1 and 3.

The casing 11 is mounted on trunnions 18, so that it may swing from the vertical position shown in Figure 1 to the non-vertical position shown in Figure 3, and vice versa. Means are provided for so moving the casing 11 together with the parts carried thereby. For this purpose, a gear segment 19 is attached to casing 11 and cooperates with a gear 20 driven by a worm gear 21 which is driven by the reversible motor 22. The motor 22 is suitably energized, under the control of the timer 23, to move the casing 11 between the two positions indicated in Figures 1 and 3.

Means for heating air and blowing it into the tub 12 may beprovided, and such means may be in alignment with the tub when the tub is in its non-vertical position. For this purpose, an outer hood 30, an inner hood 31, a blower 32, and electric heaters 33 are provided. The opening 34 between the hoods 30 and 31 is adapted to align with the rims 35 and 36 respectively of the casing 11 and an inner cylinder '37 which is supported within the casing 11. The blower 32 blows heated air into the tub 12, the major portion of which air, after passing into and out of the tub, flows along the inside of the cylinder 37, reverses and flows between the cylinder 37 and casing 11 to the inlet 34 and from thence past the heaters 33 and into the fan 32 again to be blown into the tub. The fan 32 is driven by a motor 40 carried by the hood.

Means are provided for condensing moisture from the air being circulatedby the fan 32. Such means may take the form of a circular spray head 41 connected by a flexible hose 42 with the condenser solenoid valve 43 which is connected to the cold water supply pipe 44. The sole noid valve 43, under the control of timer 23, introduces cold water into the space between the cylinder 37 and casing 11, and this cold water condenses the moisture previously extracted from the clothes, so that the air upon being reheated by the heaters 33 is capable of absorbing more moisture from the clothes in repeated cycles. The condensed moisture and cooling water flow through the flexible hose 45 to the pump 46 and from thence through the flexible hose 47 to the discharge hose 48 which may be connected to the ordinary stationary tubs or drain.

The casing 11 "has a top opening formed by the rim 35 and a bottom opening 50. The power unit 14 is supported from the casing 11 by a flexible cone 51 over the bottom opening 50. The tub 12 is supported within the casing and is rotatable by the power unit as more fully described in the said Clark Patent 2,422,395, and the agitator 13 may be vertically reciprocable by said power unit 14 as more fully described in said last named patent. If desired, straps 52 and 53 may be provided for aiding in the support of the power unit and tub when in the position shown in Figure 3. These straps are loose enough to permit the usual limited gyrations, when the power unit and tub are positioned as in Figure 1.

Hot water is introduced from hot water supply 55 into the tub under the control of solenoid 56 and cold water is introduced into the tub 12 by the cold water solenoid 57. A constant flow control device 58 may be placed within the nozzle 59 to supply a constant volume of water per unit of time.

Switches 60 and 60:: are opened by the casing 11 when it is in its non-vertical position and the switches automatically close when the casing moves away from them. Likewise, switches 61 and 61a are opened when the casing 11 is in its vertical position, and automatically close when the casing leaves them. These switches control the speed of the motor within the power unit 14, and stop the swinging movement of casing 11.

Referring to Figure 4, the timer 23 includes a timer motor which rotates the shaft 71, preferably in stepby-step motion. The shaft 71 carries a knob 72 for operation by the user. The cams 73 to 79 inclusive respectively actuate the switches 30 to 86 inclusive. Switches 80 to 86 respectively control hot solenoid 56, cold solenoid 57, reversible motor 22, two-speed motor 943 (which is within power unit 14), spin solenoid 91 (the action of which is described in Clark 2,422,395), a group consisting of fan motor 40, heaters 33 and condenser solenoid valve 43, and timer motor 70. The switches 82 and 83 have three positions, i. e., an open position between the stationary contacts, an upper position, and a lower position to'provide'the necessary energization of the controlled units. Thermostatic switch 92 controls the heaters 33 within predetermined and adjustable limits. The timer energizes and deenergizes its controlled electrical units for the necessary intervals of time, and in the proper sequence, it being understood that the switches are opened and closed to obtain the desired washing and drying operations, as is readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the operation of the apparatus, while the casing 11 is in vertical position, as shown in Figure 1, the cover 95 of the cabinet is opened, and clothes and detergent are inserted in the tub 12 and thereafter the cover 95 is closed. The timer knob 72 is placed in the start position, whereupon the switch 86 is closed and the timer motor 70 is energized and all the switches are as shown in Figure 4. The hot solenoid valve 56 is energized by the closing of switch 80, and hot water, at a constant rate, is introduced into the tub 12 by the nozzle 59 for a measured interval of time sufficient to fill the tub to the proper level, whereupon switch 80 is opened and solenoid valve 56 is closed. Thereafter, the switch 83 is closed in its lower position and the motor 90 is energized with its high speed winding 90a. This causes reciprocation of the agitator 13 for a proper interval of time, after which the spin solenoid 91 is energized by the closing of switch 84 while switch 83 remains closed. This causes high-speed rotation of the tub 12 to extract water from the clothes for a suitable interval of time whereupon switches 83 and 84 are opened. Rinse water may then be introduced by closing and opening switches spin periods controlled by the proper closing and opening of lower switch 83 and switch 84, and may be repeated, if desired. These rinses may use hot water, cold water, or a mixture of both, by proper selection of camming of switches 80 and 81. Thereafter, switch 82 moves from its intermediate position to its lower position and energizes motor 22 to move the casing 11 to the non-vertical position shown in Figure 3, where it is stopped by the opening of switch 60a. Thereafter, switch 82 opens and switch 83 moves to its upper position while 61 has previously closed by movement of casing 11 to energize the slow speed winding 90b of the motor 90, while switch 84 energizes spin solenoid 91 and switch 85 energizes the fan motor 40, heaters 33 and condensing water solenoid valve 43. Under these conditions, the fan 32 blows hot air into the slowly rotating tub 12 from whence the air fiows out and downwardly inside the cylinder 37 and thence upwardly between the cylinder 37 and casing 11 and back to the opening 34 between the hoods 30 and 31. The cold water introduced by the spray head 41 condenses the moisture from the air, and the condensed moisture and water are discharged through the pipe 45 and pump 46 to the discharge pipe 48 as previously described. The slow rotation of the tub 12 loosens the clothes from the sides of the tub 12 and tumbles them to provide the necessary fluffing action to insure thorough drying of the clothes. After a suitable interval of time, and after the clothes are dry all of the timer switches, except 86, are opened unless already open. Thereafter, the motor 22 is energized in reverse direction by the closing of the upper switch 82 and by the previously closed switch 61a to return the casing 11 to its vertical position where it is stopped by the opening of switch 61a after which 82 opens. The switch 86 is then opened to stop the timer in stop position.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A combined washer and dryer comprising, an outer casing, an inner casing fixed to said outer casing and located within said outer casing, a tub within said inner casing, an agitator within said tub, power means for moving said agitator and rotating said tub, means for tilting said tub and casings from a vertical position for washing clothes to a non-vertical position for drying clothes, air

80 and 81 followed by other agitation and.

directing means including an outer hood and an inner hood located within said outer hood, said outer hood being in alignment with said outer casing and said inner hood being in alignment with said inner casing when said tub and casings are in their non-vertical position, a heating element located between said hoods, and a blower having an inlet connected with the space between said hoods and having an outlet located in alignment with said tub when said tub is in a non-vertical position, said blower forcing heated air into said tub, said heated air after being forced into said tub flowing outwardly over an edge of said tub, thence downwardly between said tub and inner casing and thence upwardly between said casings and into the space between said hoods.

2. A combined washer and dryer comprising, an outer casing, an inner casing fixed to said outer casing and located within said outer casing, an open-ended tub within said inner casing, an agitator within said tub, power means for moving said agitator and rotating said tub, means for tilting said tub and casings from a vertical position for washing to a non-vertical position for drying, air heating and blowing means located in alignment with the open end of said tub when said tub and casings are in a non-vertical position, said heating and blowing means forcing heated air into said tub, said heated air overflowing an upper edge of said tub and flowing downwardly between said tub and easing, the space between said inner and outer casings being in communication with the inlet of said heating and blowing means and in communication with the space between said tub and inner casing whereby heated air flowing downwardly between said tub and inner casing has a return path to said heating and blowing means inlet via the space between said inner and outer casings.

3. A combined washer and dryer comprising an outer casing, an inner casing fixed to said outer casing and located within said outer casing, an open-ended tub within said inner casing, an agitator within said tub, power means for moving said agitator and rotating said tub, means :for tilting said tub and casings from a vertical position for washing to a non-vertical position for drying, air heating and blowing means located in alignment with the open end of said tub when said tub and casings are in a non-vertical position, said heating and blowing means forcing heated air into said tub, said heated air overflowing an upper edge of said tub and flowing downwardly between said tub and casing, the space between said inner and outer casings being in communication with the inlet of said heating and blowing means and in communication with the space between said tub and inner casing whereby heated air flowing downwardly between said tub and inner casing has a return path to said heat-ing and blowing means inlet via the space between said inner and outer casings, and air cooling means between said inner and outer casings for cooling the air flowing toward said heating and blowing means inlet.

4. A combined washer and dryer comprising a casing, an open-ended tub within said casing, an agitator within said tub, power means for moving said agitator and rotating said tub, means for tilting said tub and casing from a vertical position for washing to a non-vertical position for drying, air heating and blowing means located in alignment with the open end of said tub when said tub is in a non-vertical position, said heating and blowing means forcing heated air into said tub, said heated air overflowing an upper edge of said tub and moving downwardly into the space between said tub and casing, and means connecting the inlet of said heating and blowing means with the space between said tub and easing thereby providing a recirculation path for heated air being forced into said tub.

5. Acombined washer and dryer comprising, a main housing, an open-ended rotatable tub within said housing movable from a vertical position for washing to a nonvertical position for drying, an agitator within said tub,

power means for moving said agitator and rotating said tub, a hood located entirely within said main housing, said hood being located in alignment with the open end of said tub and covering the entire open end of said tub when said tub is tilted to a non-vertical position, and heating and blowing means located within said hood for forcing heated air into said tub when said tub is in a non-vertical position.

6. A combined washer and dryer comprising, a main housing, an open-ended rotatable tub within said housing movable from a vertical position for washing to a non vertical position for drying, an agitator within said tub, power means for moving said agitator and rotating said tub, a hood located entirely within said main housing, said hood being located in alignment with the open end of said tub and covering the entire open end of said tub References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 504,246 Reeve Aug. 29, 1893 2,016,552 McCreery Oct. 8, 1935 2,121,431 Hamm June 21, 1938 2,506,280 Ryder May 2, 1950 2,579,310 Dunham Dec. 18, 1951 2,607,209 Constantine Aug. 19, 1952 2,608,003 Tucker Aug. 6, 1952 

